About the Office of Experiential Learning

Structured experiential learning opportunities enable students to effectively manage complexity and ambiguity; encounter and wrestle with authentic ethical dilemmas; understand and value different perspectives; and reflect on their purpose and aspirations in life. Experiential learning can also contribute positively to students’ future engagement at work and long-term well-being (Gallup-Purdue Index Report 2014).

OEL works to support, improve, and grow experiential learning opportunities; develop and implement new pedagogical, curricular, and advising models; and create a more intentional, integrated, and impactful ecosystem within the Institute.

In recent years, we’ve launched a class designed to teach ethics in real-world settings; kicked off a new initiative to create more Experiential Learning Opportunities (ELOs) focused on social impact; gave out mini-grants to support dozens of IAP activities; started a new assessment project to understand and improve access to high-quality ELOs; and created a platform called ELx to help students find ELOs. (And yeah, we coined a couple of new acronyms along the way…)

Last but definitely not least, we’re home to three awesome experiential learning centers and programs: the Edgerton Center, PKG Public Service Center, and UROP.

• The “experiential” piece involves applying knowledge to create, discover, or accomplish something in an authentic or simulated context, with potential societal and/or scholarly impact.
• The “learning” involves building new knowledge, skills, and/or perspectives by grappling with challenges, getting feedback from experts, and reflecting on the experience.
• The structured “opportunity” is supported by reflection, guidance, feedback, time, financial aid, and space to connect the learning to the context.

To be successful, ELOs should include the following components:

• Hands-on, applied work in realistic contexts
• Meaningful guidance, supervision, and feedback
• Sufficient duration and intensity for learners to complete at least one action-feedback-reflection cycle
• Critical reflection performed by the learner
• Measurement of the learner’s growth against the identified learning objectives (and optionally, for more advanced programs, the learner’s broader impact is evaluated)

Though “ELO” is a fairly new term at MIT, experiential learning opportunities have existed at MIT for more than 50 years. ELOs at MIT include UROPs, MISTI internships, PKG internships and fellowships, some teaching positions, startups, and more!

Kate Trimble (she/her) 🥸 is MIT’s Senior Associate Dean for Experiential Learning (and also serves as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Vice Chancellor). She is fortunate to work with the amazing EL programs that make an MIT education magical. Kate lives in Providence and knows all of the best restaurants and beaches in the state of Rhode Island.